𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲'𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐧 ⏧ Jey Uso

𝟎𝟓.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞

𝐒𝖾ρ𝗍𝖾ꭑᑲ𝖾𝗋 8, 2023
19 ω𝖾𝖾𝗄𝗌 ρ𝗋𝖾𝗀𐓣α𐓣𝗍

Joshua walked into the hospital room, a wave of mixed emotions flooding over him as he ushered the boys inside. Jeyce, Jaciyah, and Jamil immediately fixed their wide eyes on Natia, who lay in the hospital bed, surrounded by an array of medical equipment.

The boys had been anxious since hearing about Natia's surgery, and now, seeing her for the first time since, they needed reassurance.

Natia smiled softly, but her heart ached at the sight of their worried faces. "Hey, my loves," she greeted, her voice warm despite her fatigue.

The boys wasted no time in settling around her. Jeyce and Jamil climbed up on the bed, eager to be close, while Jaciyah perched on the edge, flipping through the charts attached to Natia's bed. "Seventeen days in the hospital. What are we going to do without you?" Jaciyah asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

Joshua shook his head, stepping closer. "We'll be fine," he answered firmly, wanting to shield Natia from any undue stress.

Natia chuckled lightly, trying to lighten the mood. "I could get released early," she suggested, though the glint in Joshua's eyes warned her he wouldn't entertain that idea.

"Nope, you're staying for all seventeen days," he replied, clicking his tongue disapprovingly.

Natia rolled her eyes playfully. She wanted to argue, to express her desire to return home and get back to her normal life, but deep down she understood the necessity of her stay. Joshua's stubbornness was well-known, and she didn't have the energy for a debate.

"I'll draw you some pictures so you're not bored in here," Jamil offered, his innocent smile brightening the room.

Natia reached over to rub his cheek. "Thank you, my boy," she said, a genuine smile spreading across her face.

Joshua glanced at the clock on the wall, a reminder of their busy schedule. Clapping his hands to get everyone's attention, he announced, "Okay, it's time to get you boys home so you can do your homework and eat dinner."

The boys' faces fell, disappointment etched into their features. They had been hoping to stay longer with their mom.

"But it's the weekend! Let us stay a little bit longer," Jeyce protested, his voice tinged with desperation.

Joshua held firm. "Nope, you guys have a schedule, and we need to stick to it."

They turned to Natia, eyes wide and pleading. Natia sighed, her heart aching as she met Joshua's gaze with her own puppy eyes, silently begging him to relent.

John pursed his lips, shaking his head resolutely. "Nope, they have homework and chores to do, Natia."

"Please, Joshua," Natia said, her voice thickening as she fought back tears. "I'll help them with their homework. It's lonely in here."

"Damn, you're good," Joshua finally conceded, chuckling softly despite himself.

"Yay!" Jamil exclaimed, instantly rummaging through his backpack. He pulled out a math worksheet, determined to get started.

Natia glanced at the paper and handed it to Joshua. "I don't understand this new math," she admitted, exasperated.

Joshua laughed, shaking his head. "I'll look it up," he said, fully aware that he wasn't much better at it than she was. But with the wealth of resources available online, he figured they could manage.

The atmosphere brightened as they worked together, laughter and chatter filling the hospital room. Natia helped them with their homework while Joshua navigated through the complexities of modern math, trying to piece together the boys' assignments.

After a few hours of teamwork, they shared a small dinner brought in by the hospital staff. Joshua made sure to find something decent for Natia, and she appreciated the effort, knowing that even the smallest comforts could make her stay more bearable.

As the evening drew to a close, Joshua knew it was time to head home. He gathered the boys, who were still buzzing with energy from their time spent with Natia.

"Dad," Jeyce called out just as Joshua was about to shut the bedroom door behind him.

"What is it, son?" Joshua asked, turning to face him.

"Are you going to marry Natia?" Jeyce asked, his expression serious and hopeful.

Joshua paused, caught off guard by the question. He had considered the possibility of marrying Natia—how could he not? She was the love of his life, the mother of his future children. But her commitment issues loomed large in his mind. They had made progress, but he knew they still had hurdles to cross before such a step could be taken.

"Why do you ask that?" Joshua replied, his voice steady despite the sudden rush of uncertainty.

Jeyce looked down at his hands, shy but earnest. "Because I want her to be like how Auntie Trin is with Jayla and Jaidan," he explained, a sincerity in his voice that tugged at Joshua's heart.

Joshua smiled, the innocent hope shining in his son's eyes warming him. "You want her to be your stepmom," he said, gently teasing.

"Bonus Mom," Jeyce corrected him, a serious look on his face.

"Bonus Mom? Where did you learn that from?" Joshua asked, raising an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Yeah, I read it in a book. It sounds cooler than stepmom," Jeyce replied, his pride evident.

Joshua chuckled, touched by his son's logic. "I know Natia and I have been dating for a while, but I don't think we're ready for marriage just yet. But I promise, when we are ready, I'll ask you to help me propose to her, okay?"

Jeyce's face lit up with excitement. "Okay!" he exclaimed, clearly pleased with the idea.

"Good night, son," Joshua said, ruffling Jeyce's hair affectionately.

"Good night, Dad," Jeyce replied, climbing into bed with a big smile on his face.

As Joshua closed the door softly behind him, he reflected on the conversation. It was a bittersweet reminder of the future they all longed for, but for now, his focus had to remain on Natia and the challenges they faced.

Back in the living room, he took a moment to gather his thoughts. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he fished it out to find a message from Natia. It was a simple text, filled with warmth and gratitude for their visit.

He smiled, feeling a sense of purpose. No matter what challenges lay ahead, he was determined to support her and be the partner she needed. The thought of building a life with her, perhaps even a future as a family, filled him with hope.